Download Zoonotic Agents of Concern in Livestock

ZOONOTIC AGENTS OF CONCERN IN LIVESTOCK
Zoonotic Disease and
Agent
Balantidiasis
Balantidium coli
Brucellosis
Brucella spp.
Campylobacteriosis
(Vibriosis)
Campylobacter jejuni
Campylobacter fetus
Cryptosporidiosis
Cryptosporidium spp.
Dermatomycosis
Ringworm
Microsporum canis,
Trichophyton spp.
Erysipiloidiosis
Erysipelothrix
rhusiopathiae
Giardiasis
Giardia spp.
Leptospirosis
Leptospira interrogans
Host
Transmission
Incubation Period
(Time from
exposure to onset
of symptoms).
Swine
Fecal–oral route.
Ruminants
and swine
Many
animal
species
Direct contact of contaminated materials with
skin or mucous membranes or by inhalation.
Fecal–oral route.
Many
animal
species
Many
animal
species
Fecal–oral route. May involve contaminated
air.
3 – 7 days
Direct skin–to-skin contact with infected
animals or indirect contact with contaminated
equipment or materials.
4 – 14 days
Swine,
poultry
Direct contact with pharyngeal or intestinal
lymphoid tissue or feces of carrier animals,
lesions (especially skin), or contaminated
fomites including soil.
Fecal – oral route.
1 – 7 days
1 – 4 weeks
Dermatophytes grow in keratinized tissue (skin, hair, nails, horns and feathers),
characterized by focal, flat, spreading circular lesions that are clear in the center
and crusted, scaly and reddened at the periphery. Invasive, systemic infections
have been reported in immunocompromised people.
If localized, usually on the hands, a slightly raised, nonpitting dark reddened
cutaneous zone slowly progressing peripherally, severe burning pain, sometimes
intense itching, occasionally forming vesicles. If generalized, fever, generalized
weakness, muscle aches and headache.
Anorexia, nausea, abdominal cramps, bloating and chronic, intermittent diarrhea.
Through non-intact skin and mucous
membranes. Often related to direct contact
with urine or tissues of infected animals.
Inhalation and ingestion may be possible
routes.
Ingestion, in utero, direct contact. Shed in
feces and milk of carriers.
2 – 30 days, usually
7 – 12 days
Fever with sudden onset, headache, chills, generalized weakness, and
conjunctival suffusion (reddened, watery eyes).
Uncertain, probably
a few days to 3
weeks.
1 – 3 weeks.
Infection is not obvious except in neonates. Fever with neurologic or respiratory
tract disease. May see abortion, reddened eyes and pustular skin lesions.
3 – 6 days
Characterized by the development of a solitary lesion on the hand, arm or face.
Lesion is initially discolored or pustular and progresses to a weeping proliferative
nodule with central indentation.
Many
animal
species
Many
animal
species
Listeriosis
Listeria
monocytogenes
Lymphocytic
Choriomeningitis
Virus (LCMV),
Arenaviridae family
Many
animal
species
Swine
Orf
Poxvirus
Sheep,
goats
Parenteral inoculation, inhalation,
contamination of mucous membranes or
broken skin, and aerosol transmission.
Transmission can occur in utero and
potentially by bite of an infected ectoparasite.
Direct contact with virus – laden lesion
exudates. Transmission by fomites or
contaminated animals is possible.
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Unknown, probably
3 – 4 days
1 week to several
months
C. jejuni 1 – 10 days
C. fetus unknown
Signs/Symptoms
Most humans have a high natural resistance to this agent. Can see diarrhea,
abdominal pain, straining to defecate, nausea and vomiting.
Characterized by fever, headache, chills, generalized weakness, nausea and
weight loss. Subclinical and asymptomatic infections can occur.
C. jejuni – Watery diarrhea, may be with mucus and blood, abdominal pain, fever
and nausea and vomiting, usually brief and self-limiting.
C. fetus – Chills, sweats, fever, cough, headache, weight loss and abortion in the
latter half of pregnancy.
Characterized by cramping, abdominal pain, profuse watery diarrhea, anorexia,
and weight loss. Immunosuppressed people may develop severe disease.
Influenza – like illness characterized by fever, generalized weakness and,
headache. In severe cases, a discolored skin rash and enlarged lymph nodes
can develop.
ZOONOTIC AGENTS OF CONCERN IN LIVESTOCK
Zoonotic Disease and
Agent
Incubation Period
(Time from
exposure to onset
of symptoms).
Signs/Symptoms
Host
Transmission
Pasteurellosis
Pasteurella spp.
Ruminants,
Swine
Animal bite or scratch, inhalation, non-intact
skin contamination from infected material, and
ingestion.
For a wound
infection – more
than 24 hrs.
Unknown for other
routes.
Wound infection – local redness, swelling, severe pain, occasionally mild fever
and regional lymph node swelling. Upper and lower respiratory tract infections
and abdominal/pelvic infection are possible with signs related to the area that is
affected. Septicemia – infrequent form of infection with fever and generalized
signs.
Plague
Yersinia pestis
Goats
Bite from an infected flea or bites, scratches
from infected animals, or ingestion of infected
tissues.
2 – 6 days
Bubonic (localized) form – fever and large, swollen, inflamed and tender lymph
nodes. Can progress to septicemic form with dissemination of the agent to other
parts of the body. Vaccines are available for personnel in high – risk categories
Psittacosis
Chlamydia psittaci
Ruminants,
Swine
Direct contact or inhalation of infectious
materials from exudates, secretions or
dessicated feces.
4 – 15 days, usually
10 days
Fever, headache, generalized weakness, chills and upper or lower respiratory
tract disease. May see extensive pneumonia and inflammation of the liver in
serious infections.
Q Fever
Coxiella burnetii
Rabies
Salmonellosis,
Salmonella spp.
Sheep,
Inhalation, ingestion.
goats, cattle
Please refer to the Rabies Facts Sheet
Many
Fecal – oral route.
animal
species
2 – 4 weeks
Sudden onset with fever, chills, headache, weakness muscle aches and profuse
sweating. Some cases – nonproductive cough and chest pain.
6 – 72 hours, usually
12 – 36 hours
Infection causes a sudden onset of headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea and
sometimes vomiting. Focal infections can be localized in any tissue of the body
with signs related to the area of infection. Immunosuppressed people are at
extra risk.
Tetanus
Tularemia
Francisella tularensis
Please refer to the Tetanus Facts Sheet
Sheep
Direct contact of skin with blood or tissues of
infected animals, bite from an infected
ectoparasite or animal, ingestion of
contaminated meat or water, inhalation.
Many
Transmitted via aerosols from infected
animal
animals or tissues, ingestion or wound
species
contamination.
1 – 10 days, usually
3 – 5 days
Symptoms are associated with portal of entry. Skin exposure most common –
sudden onset of fever, chills, headache and generalized weakness with
decaying ulcer at the site. Ingestion – vomiting and diarrhea. Inhalation –
pneumonia.
Most common form reflects involvement of the pulmonary system and is
characterized by cough, sputum production and eventually coughing up blood.
Extrapulmonary forms of the disease can involve any tissue or organ system.
General symptoms as the disease progresses include weight loss, fatigue, fever,
chills and wasting.
Tuberculosis
Mycobacterium spp.
4 – 12 weeks.
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References:
Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and Use of Research Animals, National Research Council, National Academy Press, Washington D.C. 1997.
Hugh-Jones M.E. et al. 1995. An Outline of the Zoonoses. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa.
Benenson, A.S. 1995. Control of Communicable Disease in Man. Am. Public Health Assoc., Washington D.C.